AstraZeneca has launched a targeted therapy for EGFR-mutated lung cancer patients in Ghana, marking a pivotal milestone in the pharmaceutical giant's strategic partnership with Revna Biosciences to expand access to precision oncology in sub-Saharan Africa. The collaboration, initially announced in April 2025, has rapidly transformed the landscape of lung cancer care in Ghana by improving the entire patient journey from early diagnosis to molecular testing and treatment access.
Precision Medicine Infrastructure Development
The partnership has established a comprehensive framework that integrates advanced molecular diagnostics with personalized treatment pathways. Revna and AstraZeneca have operationalized EGFR biomarker testing within diagnostic workflows at leading cancer centers, advancing precision oncology and enabling targeted therapy selection at the point of care.
"This collaboration exemplifies how a synergized biomedical ecosystem such as RevnaBio's can help address long-standing institutional voids that have limited access to advanced molecular diagnostics and targeted therapies in this region," said Dr. Derrick Edem Akpalu, Co-Founder & CEO of Revna Biosciences. "By integrating advanced diagnostics, data, and treatment pathways, we are enabling a new standard of care for patients who have historically been underserved."
Comprehensive Care Transformation Strategy
The collaboration has delivered tangible outcomes across multiple dimensions of cancer care infrastructure. The partners convened a strategic Lung Cancer Symposium and Training Workshop to strengthen diagnostic capacity by equipping pathologists and oncology leaders with advanced tools and protocols for precision lung cancer diagnostics.
The initiative has built scalable infrastructure that connects cutting-edge molecular diagnostics to personalized treatment pathways, significantly accelerating time-to-therapy for patients. Additionally, the partnership has established real-time data integration to enhance clinical decision-making while building a foundational framework for regional research into molecular profiling, treatment response, and resistance mechanisms.
Clinical Impact and Future Vision
Dr. Khomotso Mashilane, Medical Director African Cluster at AstraZeneca, emphasized the partnership's immediate impact: "We are proud to see this partnership with Revna Biosciences already delivering meaningful impact for patients in Ghana. By combining advanced diagnostics with access to targeted anti-cancer therapies, we are helping to ensure that patients receive the right treatment at the right time. This is a testament to the power of science and collaboration in transforming cancer care."
The collaboration addresses critical healthcare gaps in the region, where delayed diagnosis and limited access to targeted therapies have historically impacted patient outcomes. Dr. Preetivi Ellis, Co-Founder and Medical Head of Revna Biosciences, noted: "As a triple board-certified physician, I've seen firsthand how delayed diagnosis and limited access to targeted therapies can impact outcomes. This partnership is a game-changer. We are not only treating today's patients more effectively—we are also building the genomic and real-world data infrastructure that will shape the future of cancer care."
Precision Medicine Platform Integration
Revna Biosciences brings significant capabilities to the partnership through its dual ISO-accredited precision medicine platform. The company's synergized ecosystem leverages a multidisciplinary laboratory facility that seamlessly integrates advanced molecular diagnostics, biobanking, and clinical and translational research services. Its digital platform, ROBIN, integrates real-world evidence, phenotypic data, and cross-border logistics to streamline R&D processes from early-phase to late-phase development.
The collaboration aligns with Revna Biosciences' core mission of caring for current patients while generating genomic and real-world insights that will inform future diagnostic and therapeutic developments. By embedding precision medicine into Ghana's healthcare system, the partnership is establishing a new regional standard for cancer care that could serve as a model for other sub-Saharan African countries.
